Top 10 Must-See Attractions When Visiting Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Museum of History is one of the city's most fascinating attractions, offering visitors an in-depth look into Hong Kong's vibrant past. The museum traces the region's origins back over 400 million years, from its ancient geological formations to its handover from British rule to China. For just HKD 10, visitors can explore a wealth of fascinating exhibits. It's a great starting point for your journey, enriching your overall experience in Hong Kong. The museum showcases historical artifacts from Chinese dynasties, geographical discoveries, traditional cultural heritage, and even Hong Kong’s role during World War II and the Japanese occupation. Opened in 1998, the museum offers exhibits in both English and Chinese, and audio guides are available for HKD 20.

Established by the Urban Council in 1975, the Hong Kong Museum of History was originally part of the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the City Museum & Art Gallery. A portion of the museum’s collections were first displayed at the original location of the City Museum in 1962, at the City Hall. The permanent exhibition, 'The Hong Kong Story,' covers the city's history and development over a vast 7,000 square meters, with eight galleries spanning two floors. Featuring over 4,000 artifacts, 750 graphic panels, dioramas, multimedia programs, and immersive sound and lighting effects, 'The Hong Kong Story' takes you through Hong Kong’s natural environment, folklore, and cultural evolution. The exhibit begins 400 million years ago during the Devonian period and ends with the 1997 Handover. Highlights include prehistoric fossils, 19th-century colonial artifacts, and ancient Chinese ceramics.

Wong Tai Sin Temple is a well-preserved religious complex located in Kowloon. When visiting this serene site, you will experience a sense of peace and tranquility. The temple spans 18,000 square meters and is situated in the Wong Tai Sin area, where devotees come to pray to three major Chinese religions: Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. In addition to the main hall, key attractions include the Three Saints Hall, the Taoist shrine, and the Nine Dragons Wall. The temple is adorned with numerous historical inscriptions, and its main building follows traditional Chinese architectural styles, featuring red pillars and golden roofs. The temple is named after Wong Sze Ping, a legendary healer and doctor revered for his dedication to healing and moral integrity. His image was brought to Hong Kong for worship in recognition of his profound contributions to medicine and ethics.

Wong Tai Sin Temple is a symbol of faith in business and prosperity for Hong Kong residents. Known for its spiritual significance, the temple attracts visitors from across Hong Kong and around the world, who come to pray for good fortune. It's a must-visit for any traveler to Hong Kong, offering an insightful look into the region’s religious practices. The temple honors all three major Chinese religions—Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism—making it a place of universal spiritual significance. According to legend, Wong Sze Ping was a monk from the 4th century who gained the status of an immortal after achieving divine enlightenment at the age of 50. Sixteen centuries later, Taoist followers brought his image to Hong Kong, establishing a temple in his honor for his devoted followers.

Jade Street and Market is a bustling wholesale and retail jewelry district located in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong. It's the largest outdoor market in Kowloon, widely known by both locals and tourists. The market is made up of roaming vendors, with some displaying their goods on tables or in glass cabinets. Inside the Jade Market, you'll find over 400 stalls selling a wide range of jade pendants, rings, and other jewelry items. Prices vary greatly, and it's an excellent place to pick up souvenirs, such as bracelets, pendants, or any other piece of jewelry that fits your budget. In addition to jade items, you'll also find Chinese fans, paintings, and swords for sale.

The market entrance is located at the intersection of Canton Road and Jordan Road, where you'll spot a giant jade stone weighing over three tons, right next to the market map. Vendors along both sides of the street will actively call out to attract customers to their stalls, so be prepared for plenty of shouting and bargaining. Don't hesitate to negotiate for a lower price, as the initial asking price can often be double what you’ll eventually pay. If you're not satisfied with the price, simply walk away—chances are, you'll find something similar at the next stall. While you won’t find the highest quality jade at Jade Street, it's an excellent spot for affordable souvenirs and gifts. Jade is a smooth and cool decorative stone, with the most common colors being green and lavender. The quality of jade depends on its purity and color intensity, so avoid pieces with brown or gray spots.

Opened in 1989, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is located on the northern shore of Victoria Harbour and is a hub for visual arts performances and diverse cultural activities such as concerts, opera, ballet, theater, film screenings, conferences, and exhibitions. It's regarded as a symbol of Hong Kong and an essential destination for any visitor to the city. Inside the cultural centre, you'll find several grand spaces perfect for sightseeing and photo opportunities. Highlights include the Concert Hall with over 2,000 seats, a cinema that accommodates up to 1,700 people, an upscale film studio, and 11 modern art rehearsal rooms. The Grand Theatre is where operas, ballets, and musicals take center stage, offering year-round performances to cater to a wide range of audiences. For a more intimate experience, the Studio Theatre is perfect for watching captivating plays and performances.

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is renowned for hosting European and Chinese opera concerts, ballet performances, and theater productions. It's a popular venue for artists visiting Hong Kong. To catch a performance, it's advisable to check the schedule in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on exciting shows. The centre houses a main concert hall, two theaters, and an exhibition hall. Entry is free, especially for smaller performances in the afternoons. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is easy to find, located just a few minutes’ walk from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station on the Tsuen Wan line. Its distinctive curved structure, resembling a ski jump near the waterfront, makes it easy to spot. From a distance, it appears to resemble a ski slope. Officially opened by Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1989, the construction cost was HKD 10 million.

A visit to Heritage 1881 will take you back in time to Hong Kong's Victorian era. From the 1880s until 1996, it served as the headquarters of the Hong Kong Marine Police. Today, visitors can explore several beautifully preserved and restored buildings. The site also features a shopping mall, an exhibition hall, and a heritage hotel. It's a rare sight to find a city that has successfully preserved its traditions while constantly progressing toward the future. Heritage 1881 seamlessly blends historical landmarks with more contemporary pursuits. Here, you can shop for international fashion brands or enjoy delicious food. Right beside the Time Ball Tower at Heritage 1881, you'll find a storm signal column, which once displayed storm warnings manually.

Heritage 1881 is the former main building of the Marine Police Headquarters, constructed in the early 1880s. It combines Victorian colonial architecture with neoclassical elements. Inside, you’ll find rooms that were once used to imprison pirates and smugglers. The ground floor was designed to stay cool during times before air conditioning. The pigeon lofts on the building’s walls were once used to send messages to ships at the harbor, long before radio became the primary means of communication between ships and shore. The site is home to several memorials, with one of the most fascinating being the Time Ball Tower. From 1885 to 1907, this tower provided a crucial service to ships in Victoria Harbour. If you're visiting Hong Kong, make sure to set aside time to explore the famous Heritage 1881 for a unique and enriching experience!

The Hong Kong Museum of Art reopened in 2018 after undergoing a major renovation that lasted for three years, costing a whopping 930 million Hong Kong dollars. The extensive upgrades transformed it into a modern and visually appealing destination for both locals and tourists. The museum now boasts cutting-edge audiovisual technology to complement its impressive collection of artwork. This includes classical Chinese art such as sculptures, paintings, and calligraphy, along with contemporary works by both local and international artists. The admission fee is approximately 10 Hong Kong dollars, but visitors can enjoy free entry every Wednesday.

The museum was established by the Hong Kong City Council in 1962 under the name of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Hong Kong City Hall in Central. In July 1975, it was split into the Hong Kong History Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The History Museum moved to Kowloon Park in 1983, and before relocating from City Hall in 1991, the Art Museum was located on the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th floors of the High Block. This location now serves as a public library. The museum eventually settled into its current home at 10 Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, next to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Space Museum. Its collection mainly features paintings, calligraphy, and sculptures from Hong Kong, China, and other parts of the world. The museum also collaborates with other global museums to host special exhibits.

Kowloon is one of the largest districts in Hong Kong, and the biggest urban area after Hong Kong Island. The Kowloon Peninsula is surrounded on three sides by Victoria Harbour, and in 1860, the area was ceded to the British, marking the beginning of Hong Kong's colonial era. The southern part of Kowloon, along with Stonecutter Island, was also leased to the British in the 1860 Beijing Convention. For many years, this area remained largely undeveloped, mainly used by the British for tiger hunting expeditions. Today, Kowloon is a popular tourist destination, home to various landmarks, including the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum.

The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum is located on Tonkin Street. It’s easily accessible by a short walk from Cheung Sha Wan MTR Station. The museum features a brick tomb from the Han Dynasty, along with an exhibition hall. The tomb was discovered in 1955, and based on its structure, inscriptions, and engravings on the tomb bricks, archaeologists believe it dates back to the Eastern Han period (25 - 220 AD). In 1988, it was declared a heritage monument. Although the tomb is closed for conservation, visitors can still get a glimpse of its interior through a glass window at the entrance. Admission to the museum is free, and the visit typically takes about 20 minutes.

Hong Kong boasts one of the most stunning skylines in the world, and to celebrate this natural beauty, the Hong Kong Tourism Board organizes the 'Symphony of Lights' – a mesmerizing show combining music and lights. Every evening at 8 PM, 44 skyscrapers on both sides of Victoria Harbour come alive with a synchronized light display of colorful lights, laser beams, spotlights, and fireworks, perfectly in sync with music. Known as the Hong Kong Symphony of Lights, this spectacular light and sound show holds the Guinness World Record as the largest of its kind. Every night, the performance illuminates the skyline of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, offering a breathtaking view of Victoria Harbour at night. The total cost to set up this event was HKD 44 million. The lights, lasers, and beams create a dynamic spectacle that highlights the stunning views of the harbor.

The show unfolds across five distinct themes. The first scene, 'Awakening', as its name suggests, brings the city to life with laser beams focused on a central core of light energy, gradually illuminating buildings in a rainbow of colors. This scene symbolizes the vibrant development of Hong Kong. The second theme, 'Energy', ramps up the intensity with powerful laser lights and spotlights filling the sky, showcasing the dynamic energy and vitality of the city. Next comes 'Heritage', where red and gold lights shine on the buildings, symbolizing the luck and prosperity of Hong Kong. Visitors are enveloped in a magical atmosphere of light and music. The program is narrated in Mandarin on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and in Cantonese on Sundays. For a more immersive experience, you can also book a dinner cruise on Victoria Harbour to enjoy the full light and sound extravaganza from the water.

If you're someone who enjoys immersing themselves in the energy of a vibrant night scene, the Temple Street Night Market is a must-visit. It is the largest and most bustling night market in Hong Kong. Every evening, starting around 6 PM, a shopping and food festival comes to life. Located in Kowloon, it's just a short walk west from the Jordan MTR station (Exit A). The market is especially popular among those looking for affordable clothes, street food, or unique finds like fake watches and pirated CDs and DVDs. You'll find a wide variety of clothing, from 'knock-off' designer labels to everyday footwear, as well as cooking tools and household items. The market is all about bargaining, so don’t be afraid to negotiate and make sure you don’t settle for the listed price. Over time, it has become a popular tourist destination, and if you're in Kowloon, missing out on Temple Street is a real regret.

The market stretches nearly 6 kilometers in the heart of Kowloon, beginning at the intersection of Temple Street and Jordan Road and ending at Kansu Street. For more than a century, it has been known as the “nighttime entertainment spot for the working class” because of its affordable prices and diverse offerings. While it may not be the largest night market in Hong Kong, Temple Street is one of the most lively, unique, and culturally rich. The architecture, vibrant colors, stall displays, food, and the atmosphere are all quintessentially Hong Kong. The market’s lively energy, combined with the eye-catching neon lights, attracts thousands of visitors every year. As the sun sets, the market becomes even more alive with vendors selling everything from quirky items to local delicacies, and street performers, including Cantonese opera singers, entertain the crowd. The first thing you'll notice is the dynamic, colorful atmosphere. The brightly lit stalls and LED signs in every color imaginable create a feast for the eyes. Here, you can explore the shops, sample delicious food, and enjoy live performances.

The Avenue of Stars, also known as the Star Avenue, is a scenic promenade along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong. Think of it as Hong Kong's version of Hollywood's Walk of Fame or London's Avenue of Stars. This iconic spot honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Hong Kong's film industry. A list of 100 notable personalities, selected by film critics, reflects the golden era of Hong Kong cinema, particularly during the 80s and 90s when the city was dubbed the 'Hollywood of the East'. One of the standout features of the Avenue is its 100 commemorative stars, representing Hong Kong’s cinematic luminaries, beginning with the first silent film made in 1913.

Located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, the Avenue of Stars is surrounded by major attractions like the New World Centre, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower. It also offers stunning panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, making it a prime spot to catch the Symphony of Lights show. At the Avenue’s starting point, in Salisbury Garden, a 4.5-meter replica of the Hong Kong Film Award statue is displayed. Along the 440-meter long Avenue, several other statues commemorate film-related figures such as directors and cinematographers, as well as mobile film projectors. The history of Hong Kong cinema is also highlighted on nine red-painted columns. The most famous feature of the Avenue is the engraved stars bearing the names of Hong Kong’s film stars, along with their handprints and signatures. On November 27, 2005, a statue was unveiled here to honor martial arts icon Bruce Lee on his 65th birthday, depicting his character from the legendary film 'Enter the Dragon'.